INTERNET BASED DATA LOGGING AND
SUPERVISORY CONTROL OF BOILER
DRUM LEVEL USING LABVIEW
A Thesis Submitted for Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of
Masters of Technology
in
Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
by
ROOPAL AGRAWAL
Roll No: 210EC3325
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
Odisha-769008, India
May 2012
INTERNET BASED DATA LOGGING AND
SUPERVISORY CONTROL OF BOILER
DRUM LEVEL USING LABVIEW
A Thesis Submitted for Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of
Masters of Technology
in
Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
by
ROOPAL AGRAWAL
Roll No: 210EC3325
Under the Guidance of
Dr. Umesh Chandra Pati
Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
Odisha-769008, India
May 2012
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ROURKELA
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project report titled “Internet Based Data Logging and Supervisory
Control of Boiler Drum Level Using LabVIEW” submitted by Roopal Agrawal (210EC3325)
in the partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Technology Degree in the
Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering during Session 2010-2012 at National Institute of
Technology, Rourkela (Deemed University) and is an authentic work carried out by them under
my supervision and guidance.
To the best of my knowledge, the matter embodied in the thesis has not been submitted to any
other university/institute for the award of any Degree or Diploma.
Date: Dr. U. C. PATI Department of E.C.E
National Institute of Technology
Rourkela, Odisha-769008
Dedicated
to
My Parents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project is by far the most significant accomplishment in my life and it would be impossible
without people who supported me and believed in me.
I am thankful to Dr. U. C. Pati, for giving me the opportunity to work under him and lending
very support to every stage of this project work. I truly appreciate and value his esteemed
guidance and encouragement from the beginning to end of this thesis. I am indebted to him for
having helped me shape the problem and providing insights towards the solution.
Sincere thanks to Prof. T. K. Dan, Prof. S. K. Patra, Prof. K. K. Mahapatra, Prof. S. Meher, Prof.
Samit Ari, Prof. S. K. Das, Prof. S. K. Behera and Prof. A. K. Sahoo for their constant
cooperation and encouragement throughout the course.
I am thankful to entire faculty of Dept. of Electronics and Communication Engineering, National
Institute Of Technology Rourkela, who have encouraged me throughout the course of Master’s
Degree.
I would like to thank all my friends, especially Sankat Bhanjan Prusty, Rashmi Panda, Manash
Kumar Sethi, Sushant Kumar Swain, Tushar Ranjan Swain, Sucharita Jena, Prashant Kumar
Mohanty and Dhanya VV for their help during the course of this work. I also thank all my
classmates for all the thoughtful and mind stimulating discussions we had, which prompted us to
think beyond the obvious. I take immense pleasure to thank our seniors namely, Pallav Maji and
Dipanjan Bhadra for their endless support in solving queries and advices for betterment of
dissertation work.
And finally thanks to my parents and my brother whose faith, patience and teaching had always
inspired me to walk upright in my life. Without all these beautiful people my world would have
been an empty place.
ROOPAL AGRAWAL
Abstract
This work describes a framework of a Internet based data logging and supervisory control of
boiler drum level system. The design and implementation of this process is done by the
LabVIEW software. The data of the process variables (Temperature and Level) from the boiler
system need to be logged in a database for further analysis and supervisory control. A LabVIEW
based data logging and supervisory control program simulates the process and the generated data
are logged in to the database as text file with proper indication about the status of the process
variable (normal or not normal).
Three different types of boiler drum level control system are designed in the Circuit Design and
Simulation toolkit of LabVIEW. This work provides the knowledge about the Fuzzy Adaptive
PID Controller and the various PID controller design methods such as Zeigler-Nichol method,
Tyreus-Luyben method, Internal Model Control (IMC). Comparative study is made on the
performance of the PID and Fuzzy Adaptive PID controller for better control system design.
The internet plays a significant and vital role in the real time control and monitoring of the
industrial process. Internet based system control and monitor the plant system remotely from
anywhere without any limitation to any geographical region. Internet based boiler control system
is developed by a Web Publishing tool in LabVIEW. The use of internet as a communication
medium provides the flexible and cost-effective solution. Now, to analyse the performance of
boiler drum level control system, Internet based data logging and supervisory control system is
designed. Hence, anyone can control and monitor the boiler plant globally.
CONTENTS
List of Figures x
List of Tables xii
List of Acronyms xiii
Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Literature Survey ................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Objective ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Thesis Organization............................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 2 CONTROL STRATEGIES OF BOILER ................................................................ 7
2.1 Three Element Control .......................................................................................................... 8
2.2 Applications of Boiler .......................................................................................................... 9
2.3 Control Strategies ................................................................................................................ 10
2.3.1 PID Controller .............................................................................................................. 10
2.3.2 Fuzzy Adaptive PID Control ........................................................................................ 12
2.4 NI-LabVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 14
2.4.1 Key Features of LabVIEW ........................................................................................... 14
Chapter 3 BOILER DRUM LEVEL CONTROL SYSTEM .................................................. 16
3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 17
3.2 Boiler Drum Level Control ................................................................................................. 17
3.2.1 Single Element Drums Level Control .......................................................................... 18
3.2.2 Two-Element Drum Level Control ............................................................................... 19
3.2.3 Three-Element Drum Level Control ............................................................................. 20
3.3 Drum Level Control Systems .............................................................................................. 21
3.4 Simulation ........................................................................................................................... 22
3.4.1 Feedback Controller ..................................................................................................... 22
3.4.2 Feedback and Feed Forward Controller ....................................................................... 26
3.4.3 Cascade Controller ....................................................................................................... 28
3.4.4 Fuzzy Adaptive Control................................................................................................ 30
3.5 Result and Discussion ......................................................................................................... 33
CHAPTER 4 DATA LOGGING AND SUPERVISORY CONTROL .................................. 35
4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 36
4.2 Data Acquisition .................................................................................................................. 37
4.3 Data Logging ....................................................................................................................... 38
4.4 Supervisory Control ............................................................................................................ 38
4.5 Simulation ........................................................................................................................... 39
4.6 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................................ 40
CHAPTER 5 INTERNET BASED CONTROL SYSTEM ..................................................... 43
5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 44
5.2 Development of Internet Based Control System ................................................................. 45
5.2.1 Web Services ................................................................................................................ 45
5.2.2 Client/ Server Architecture ........................................................................................... 46
5.2.3 Web Server Configuration ............................................................................................ 47
5.2.4 Advantages of Internet Based Control System ............................................................. 47
5.3 Simulation ........................................................................................................................... 48
5.3.1 Internet Based Boiler Drum Level Control System...................................................... 48
5.3.2 Internet Based Data Logging and Supervisory Control System ................................... 50
Chapter 6 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 51
6.1 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 52
6.2 Future Work ........................................................................................................................ 53
BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 54
PUBLICATIONS……………………………………………………………………………….57
x
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1 Three Element Boiler Drum Level Control ................................................................... 9
Figure 2.2 Structure of Fuzzy Adaptive PID ................................................................................ 12
Figure 3.3 Single Element Boiler Drum Level Control ................................................................ 18
Figure 3.4 Two Element Boiler Drum Level Control ................................................................... 19
Figure 3.5 Three Element Boiler Drum Level Control ................................................................. 20
Figure 3.6 Single Element Boiler Drum Level for Feedback Control System ............................. 23
Figure 3.7 Step Input Response .................................................................................................... 23
Figure 3.8 Ziegler Nichols PID Controller Response with Step Input ......................................... 24
Figure 3.9 Tyreus-Luyben PID Controller Response with Step Input.......................................... 25
Figure 3.10 IMC Based PID Controller Response with Step Input .............................................. 26
Figure 3.11 Block Diagram of Feedback and Feed Forward Controller ...................................... 27
Figure 3.12 PID Controller Response with Step Input ................................................................. 28
Figure 3.13 Block Diagram of Cascade Control System .............................................................. 29
Figure 3.14 PID Controller Response with Step Input ................................................................. 29
Figure 3.15 Block Diagram of Fuzzy Adaptive PID Controller ................................................... 30
Figure 3.16 Input/Output Membership Function (Using Mamdani Method) ............................... 31
xi
Figure 3.17 Fuzzy Rule Base ........................................................................................................ 32
Figure 3.18 Fuzzy Adaptive PID Controller Response with Step Input ....................................... 32
Figure 4.19 Schematic Diagram of Data Acquisition System ...................................................... 37
Figure 4.20 Front Panel Diagram of Three Element Boiler Level Control. ................................. 39
Figure 4.21 Block Diagram of Data Logging System of Boiler. .................................................. 40
Figure 4.22 Web Based Front Panel of Data Logging System of Boiler. ..................................... 41
Figure 5.23 Architecture of Client/ Server Based on Internet ...................................................... 46
Figure 5.24 Internet Based Boiler Drum Level Control System (Single Element) ...................... 48
Figure 5.25 Internet Based Boiler Drum Level Control System (Two Element) ......................... 49
Figure 5.26 Internet Based Boiler Drum Level Control System (Three Element) ....................... 49
Figure 5.27 Web Based Front Panel of Data Logging System of Boiler ...................................... 50
xii
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Ziegler-Nichol Parameter ............................................................................................. 11
Table 2.2 Tyreus-Luyben Parameter ............................................................................................. 11
Table 2.3 Kp Fuzzy Control Rule .................................................................................................. 13
Table 2.4 Kd Fuzzy Control Rule .................................................................................................. 13
Table 2.5 Ki Fuzzy Control Rule ................................................................................................... 14
Table 3.6 Comparison Between the Performances of Boiler through Different Controller ......... 33
Table 4.7 Database Stored in Excel File ....................................................................................... 42
xiii
LIST OF ACRONYMS
PI Proportional Integral
PD Proportional Derivative
PID Proportional Integral Derivative
LabVIEW Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench
VIs Virtual Instruments
IMC Internal Model Control
ADC Analog Digital Converter
SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
GUI Graphical User Interface
HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Introduction
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1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Introduction
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2
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, the overview of the Internet based boiler drum level control system is described.
Literature survey of this work has been discussed. The objective of the thesis is explained. At the
end organization of thesis has been presented.
1.1 Overview
Boiler is defined as a closed vessel in which steam is produced from water by the combustion of
fuel. Generally, in boilers steam is produced by the interaction of hot flue gases with water pipes
which is coming out from the fuel mainly coal or coke. In boilers, chemical energy of stored fuel
is converted into the heat energy and this heat energy is absorbed by the water which convert
them into a steam.
Due to poorly understand the working principles; boilers have many serious injuries and
destruction of property. It is critical for the safe operation of the boiler and the steam turbine.
Too low a level may overheat boiler tubes and damage them. Too high a level may interfere with
separating moisture from steam and transfers moisture into the turbine, which reduces the boiler
efficiency. Various controlling mechanism are used to control the boiler system so that it works
properly.
To maintain the boiler drum level constant proper data monitoring and recording is required. The
process of collecting data through sensors, analyse the data and save the data in computer is
called data logging. The data can be temperature, pressure, displacement, flow, voltage, strain,
current, power or any wide range of process variables. Data logging is commonly used in
monitoring system where there is the need of collecting information faster than a human can
possible collect the information over a period of time. It has the ability to automatically collect
data on a 24 hour basis. Real world data logging applications are typically more involved than
just acquiring and recording signals, typically involving some combination of online analysis,
offline analysis, display, report generation and data sharing.
Introduction
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3
In recent years, Internet-based control systems have gained considerable attention in science and
engineering, since they provide a new and convenient unified framework for system control
applications. Internet based Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), utilizes the
public Internet as a communication medium. It facilitates with the versatile supervision and
control, not necessarily from the remote control centre, but from any part of the world with
facilities of World Wide Web.
1.2 Literature Survey
Min Xu, Shaoyuan Li and Wenjian Cai have proposed a cascade model predictive control
scheme for boiler drum level control [1]. By employing generalized predictive control structures
for both inner and outer loops, measured and unmeasured disturbances can be effectively
rejected, and drum level at constant load is maintained. In addition, non minimum phase
characteristic and system constraints in both loops can be handled effectively by generalized
predictive control algorithms. The algorithm has also been implemented to control a 75-MW
boiler plant, and the results show an improvement over conventional control schemes.
Yonghong Huang, Nianping Li, Yangchun Shil and Yixun Yil have proposed about the Adaptive
control strategy to regulate the drum-level of a power plant boiler [2]. Based on the three-
element feed water control system, recursive least squares method were used to identify the plant
parameters and then genetic algorithm (GA) was applied to adjust the parameters of the
controller. GA self-tuned system was able to reject endogenous and exogenous disturbances
more effectively and rapidly. GA-self-tuned system was able to reject endogenous and
exogenous disturbances more effectively and rapidly, thus had better self-adaptation capability
and robustness.
In 2010 Yuanhui Yang, Wailing Yang, Mingchun Wu, Qiwen Yang and Yuncan Xue have
presented an adaptive fuzzy PID controller [3]. Its functionality is divided into three operating
units which are the proportional operating unit, the integral operating units and the derivative
Introduction
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4
operating unit. The inputs of the controller are compose of two kinds of signal. The main input
signal is the weighted system error and the weights are the traditional PID parameter with fixed
gains tuned in a traditional way. The auxiliary inputs signal is produced by a fuzzy logic
controller. The output of the controller is adjusted implicitly and adaptively.
Zafer Aydogmus and Omur Aydogmus have presented a Web-based remote access real-time
laboratory using SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) control [4]. The control of an
induction motor is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of this remote laboratory, using real
instruments. A programmable logic controller (PLC) was programmed to control the operation of
the system and a SCADA system was installed to monitor and control of the process.
Subhransu Padhee and Yaduvir Singh give an overview of data acquisition, data logging and
supervisory control system of a plant consisting of multiple boilers [5]. Data acquisition, data
logging and supervisory control are the basic building blocks of plant automation. This paper
takes a case study of plant consisting of multiple boilers where multiple process variables of the
boilers need to be acquired from the field and monitored. The data of the process variables needs
to be logged in a database for further analysis and supervisory control.
1.3 Objective
The objective of this work is to design a Internet based data logging and supervisory control of
boiler drum level control system. Data logging is a very common measurement application for
recording of physical or electrical parameters over a period of time. This electrical parameter is
generated from the boiler drum level control process. The data of the process variables needs to
be logged in a database for further analysis and supervisory control. A LabVIEW based data
logging and supervisory control program simulates the process and the generated data are logged
in to the database with proper indication about the status of the process variable.
Internet-based control systems have been developed by means of extending discrete control
systems. The use of the Internet as a communication medium provides cost-effective, flexible
Introduction
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5
and easy-to- access distributed control systems that are not limited to any geographical region.
Internet-based control systems are characterized as globally remote monitoring by the Internet.
1.4 Thesis Organization
This thesis contains 6 chapters. Following the introduction, the rest of the thesis is organized as
follows:
Chapter-2 Control Strategies of Boiler
The basic of control strategies of boiler drum level control is discussed. Controller is used to
control the process of boiler drum level control system. There are various PID control tuning
methods such as Ziegler-Nichols method, Tyreus-Luyben method and Internal Model Control
(IMC) are used to design the controller of boiler. Theory of Fuzzy Logic Controller is also
explained.
Chapter-3 Boiler Drum Level Control System
In this chapter, three different types of boiler are explained as Single element boiler drum level
control, two element boiler drum level control and three element boiler drum level control. The
parameters of boiler drum level control system are discussed. Simulation results of all the three
types of boiler are shown with PID and Fuzzy Logic Control strategies. Comparison is shown in
the performance of boiler with different control strategies.
Chapter-4 Data Logging and Supervisory Control
This chapter explained the data acquisition, data logging and supervisory control of the boiler
drum level control system. Simulation of data logging system is performed in the LabVIEW
software. The generated result is logged into the database in Microsoft excel file.
Introduction
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6
Chapter-5 Internet Based Control System
This chapter presents the basic concept of internet based control system. Web based boiler drum
level control system is developed by Web Publishing tool in LabVIEW. The concept of web
services is explained. Architecture of Client/Server based on Internet is described. Simulation
has been performed and HTML file is created as a result.
Chapter-6 Conclusion
The overall conclusion of the thesis is presented in this chapter. It also contains some future
research topics which need attention and future investigation.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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7
Chapter 2
Control Strategies of Boiler
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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8
CONTROL STRATEGIES OF BOILER
The introduction of three element boiler drum level control system is explained. The application
of boiler drum level control system is discussed. The basic of control strategies of boiler drum
level control is described. There are various PID control tuning methods such as Ziegler-Nichols
method, Tyreus-Luyben method and Internal Model Control (IMC) which are used to design the
controller of boiler. Theory of Fuzzy Logic Controller is also explained.
2.1 Three Element Control
In the process industries, to control the three elements of boiler i.e. steam flow, drum level of
water and feed water flow is required for the proper functioning of boiler. Pressure, temperature
and level cannot be controlled; the only thing that can be controlled is flow. The pressure or
temperature in a boiler is maintained by controlling the flow of fuel and air. Also, the level is
maintained by controlling the flow of feed water. Pressure, temperature, level and other variables
will increase or decrease only with a change in flow.
To maintain the drum level at constant steam load, a controller has been designed to bring the
drum up to the level of set point. In single-element control, only drum level measurement and a
feed water control valve are required. The two-element drum level control uses two variables i.e.
drum level and steam flow to manipulate the feed water control valve. The three-element drum
level control uses three variables i.e. drum level, steam flow and feed water flow rate, to
manipulate the feed water control valve as shown in Fig. 2.1.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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9
Figure 2.1 Three element boiler drum level control
2.2 Applications of Boiler
Boilers have many applications which are as follows:
These can be used in stationary applications to provide heat, hot water and steam for domestic
use in many industries.
These can be used in mobile applications to provide steam for locomotion in applications such as
trains, ships, and boats.
Steam boilers are used as generators to produce electricity in the energy business. These are also
used in agriculture as well for soil steaming.
These can be used in heating systems or for cement production.
These can be used in textile industries for bleaching and many other industries like sugar mills
and chemical industries.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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2.3 Control Strategies
Control strategies are necessary for any system to perform accurately. Some of these are given
below.
2.3.1 PID Controller
A Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller is a general feedback control loop
mechanism widely used in industrial process control systems. A PID controller corrects the error
between a measured process variable and the desired set point by calculating the value of error.
The corrective action can adjust the process rapidly to keep the error minimal [6].
The PID controller separately calculate the three parameters i.e. the proportional, the integral, the
derivative values. The proportional value determines the reaction to the current error. The
integral value determines the reaction based on the sum of recent errors as past error. The
derivative value determines the reaction based on the rate at which the error has been changing
as a future error. By tuning these three constants in the PID controller algorithm, the controller
can provide control action designed for specific process control requirements [7].
Some applications may require only one or two parameters of the PID controller to provide the
appropriate control on system. A PID controller will be called a PI, PD, P or I controller in the
absence of the respective control actions. This is achieved by setting the gain of undesired
control outputs to zero. PI controllers are very common, since derivative action is very sensitive
to measurement noise and the absence of an integral value may prevent the system from reaching
its target value due to control action.
Following are the process used to determine the PID gain parameter:
2.3.1.1 Ziegler–Nichols Method
This method is introduced by John G. Ziegler and Nathaniel B. Nichols [8]. In this method,
the Ki and Kd gains are first set to zero. The P gain is increased until it reaches the ultimate gain
Ku, at which the output of the loop starts to oscillate. Ku and the oscillation period Pu are used to
set the gains as shown in Table 2.1.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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Table 2.1 Ziegler-Nichol Parameter
Control Type Kp Ki Kd
P 0.50 Ku - -
PI 0.45 Ku 1.2 Kp/ Pu -
PID 0.60 Ku 2 Kp/ Pu KpPu/ 8
These gains apply to the ideal, parallel form of the PID controller. When applied to the standard
PID form, the integral and derivative time parameters Ti and Td are only dependent on the
oscillation period Pu.
2.3.1.2 Tyreus-Luyben Method
This method is introduced by Tyreus-Luyen. In this method, the Ki and Kd gains are first set to
zero. The P gain is increased until it reaches the ultimate gain Ku, at which the output of the loop
starts to oscillate. Ku and the oscillation period Pu are used to set the gains as shown in Table 2.2.
Table 2.2 Tyreus-Luyben Parameter
Control Type Kp Ki Kd
PI 0.3125 Ku Kp/ 2.2 Pu -
PID 0.4545 Ku Kp/ 2.2 Pu KpPu/ 6.3
2.3.1.3 Internal Model Control (IMC)
The IMC based PID structure uses the process model as in IMC design. In the IMC procedure,
the controller Qc(s) is directly based on the invertible part of the process transfer function. The
IMC results in only one tuning parameter which is filter tuning factor but the IMC based PID
tuning parameters are the functions of this tuning factor. The selection of the filter parameter is
directly related to the robustness. IMC based PID procedures uses an approximation for the dead
time.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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2.3.2 Fuzzy Adaptive PID Control
Based on the process knowledge, an intelligent control technique that is Fuzzy Adaptive PID
Control is discussed. The structure of fuzzy adaptive PID controller is shown in Fig. 2.2. It
mainly consists of two parts, one is the conventional PID controller and the other is fuzzy logic
controller. In this work, two input and three output fuzzy adaptive PID controller is designed.
The inputs are the error and the error rate (change in error) and outputs are the values of Kp, Ki
and Kd. The objective is to find the fuzzy relations among Kp, Ki, Kd, error and error rate. With
continuous testing, the three output parameters are adjusted so as to achieve good stability.
Variable PID controller adds the output value of the fuzzy controller and default PID values [9].
Figure 2.2 Structure of Fuzzy Adaptive PID
2.3.2.1 Design of Fuzzy Adaptive PID
Fuzzy controller is a special fuzzy system that can be used as a controller component in a closed-
loop system. It includes the fuzzifier, fuzzy rule base, process knowledge and FL rules, fuzzy
interference engine and de-fuzzifier. The fuzzifier is the plant to fuzzy logic system interface and
performs a mapping from real-valued variables into fuzzy variables. The fuzzy rule base consists
of a collection of fuzzy rules. The knowledge base contains the experienced knowledge of the
flow process station. Data base contains the membership function of every linguistic variable.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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Control rules are described by the data base. The defuzzifier is the fuzzy logic system-to-plant
interface and performs a mapping from fuzzy variables to real-valued variables.
2.3.2.2 Membership Function
The membership function used by fuzzy controller is the triangular membership function. The
input ranges is from -1 to +1 and the fuzzy subset are Negative Big, Negative medium, Negative
small, Zero, Positive small, Positive medium and Positive Big respectively termed as NB, NM,
NS, ZO, PS, PM and PB. The performance of the controller depends on the quantization factor
and the scaling factor.
2.3.2.3 Control Rules of the Fuzzy Controller
The control rules are designed to achieve the best performance of the fuzzy controller. In this
work 49 control rules are adopted. These rules are given in the Table 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5.
Table 2.3 Kp Fuzzy Control Rule
EC
E
NB NM NS ZO PS PM PB
NB PB PB PM PM PS ZO ZO
NM PB PB PM PS PS ZO NS
NS PM PM PM PS ZO NS NS
ZO PM PM PS ZO NS NM NM
PS PS PS ZO NS NS NM NM
PM PS ZO NS NM NM NM NB
PB ZO ZO NM NM NM NB NB
Table 2.4 Kd Fuzzy Control Rule
EC
E
NB NM NS ZO PS PM PB
NB PS NS NB NB NB NM PS
NM PS NS NB NM NM NS ZO
NS ZO NS NM NM NS NS ZO
ZO ZO NS NS NS NS NS ZO
PS ZO ZO ZO ZO ZO ZO ZO
PM PB NS PS PS PS PS PB
PB PB PM PM PM PS PS PB
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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14
Table 2.5 Ki Fuzzy Control Rule
EC
E
NB NM NS ZO PS PM PB
NB NB NB NM NM NS ZO ZO
NM NB NB NM NS NS ZO ZO
NS NB NM NS NS ZO PS PS
ZO NM NM NS ZO PS PM PM
PS NM NS ZO PS PS PM PB
PM ZO ZO PS PS PM PB PB
PB ZO ZO PS PM PM PB PB
Using this control rules, fuzzy.fs file is created. This control rules are generated using the Fuzzy
System Designer toolbox available in LabVIEW. The membership function with the mentioned
fuzzy subsets and the control rules form the fuzzy controller. This .fs file is called in the
simulation environment of LabVIEW as a sub VI. The inference engine used here is the
Mamdani Inference engine. The technique proposed in this work has been tested on a Circuit
Design and Simulation toolkit based on LabVIEW .
2.4 NI-LabVIEW
National Instrument’s LabVIEW is a graphical development environment for creating flexible,
measurement and control applications rapidly at minimal cost. With LabVIEW, engineers and
scientists interface with real-world signals, analyse data for meaningful information and share
results. LabVIEW makes development very fast and easy for all users.
2.4.1 Key Features of LabVIEW
• Graphical Programming
• Built-in measurement and control function
• Multiple development tools
• Wide array of computing targets
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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The main programming section of LabVIEW is a Virtual Interface (VI) and a corresponding
block diagram. Programming for the VI is done using control palette which contains several
controls and indicators. Similarly, the corresponding block diagram is programmed using the
function palette.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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Chapter 3
Boiler Drum Level Control System
________________________________________________
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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17
BOILER DRUM LEVEL CONTROL SYSTEM
In this chapter, three different types of boiler i.e. Single element boiler drum level control, two
element boiler drum level control and three element boiler drum level control are explained. The
parameters of boiler drum level control system are discussed. Simulation results of all the three
types of boiler are shown with PID and Fuzzy Logic Control strategies. Comparison of the boiler
performance through different controller are discussed.
3.1 Introduction
Boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporised fluid
exits the boiler for use in various process or heating applications. It is a device used to create
steam by applying heat energy to water. A boiler must be designed to absorb the maximum
amount of heat released in the process of combustion of fuel. The heat is transferred to the boiler
water through radiation, conduction and convection. The relative percentage of each is dependent
upon the type of boiler, the designed heat transfer surface and the fuels [10].
Drum Level Control Systems are used extensively throughout the process industries. It is used to
control the level of boiling water contained in boiler drums and provide a constant supply of
steam. If the level is too high, flooding of steam purification equipment can occur. If the level is
too low, reduction in efficiency of the treatment and recirculation function. Pressure can also
build to dangerous levels. A drum level control system tightly controls the level whatever the
disturbances, level change, increase/decrease of steam demand, feed water flow variations
appears.
3.2 Boiler Drum Level Control
Boiler drum level control is critical for the protection of plant and safety of equipment. The
purpose of the drum level controller is to bring the drum level up to the given set point and
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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18
maintain the level at constant steam load. An intense decrease in this level may expose boiler
tubes, allowing them to become overheated and damaged. An increase in this level may cause
interference with the process of separating moisture from steam within the drum, thus the
efficiency of the boiler reduces and carrying moisture into the turbine [11]. Typically, there are
three strategies used to control drum level. With each successive strategy, a refinement of the
previous control strategy has been taken place. For extent of the load change requirements, the
control strategy depends on the measurement and control equipment.
The three main options available for drum level control are discussed below.
3.2.1 Single Element Drums Level Control
The single element control is the simplest method for boiler drum level control system. It is least
effective form of drum level control which requires a measurement of drum water level and feed
water control valve. It is mainly recommended for boilers with modest change requirement and
relatively constant feed water condition. The process variable coming from the drum level
transmitter is compared to a set point and the difference is a deviation value. This signal is given
to the controller which generates corrective action output. The output is then passed to the boiler
feed water valve, which adjusts the level of feed water flow into the boiler drum.
Figure 3.3 Single element boiler drum level control
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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19
3.2.2 Two-Element Drum Level Control
The two element drum level control system can be best applied to single element boiler drum
level control system where feed water is at a constant pressure. It requires the measurement of
drum level, load demand and feed water control valve. The load demand change inferred from
the steam flow rate measurement. Level of drum water is affected by the heating rate of the
burner. The higher the heating rate, more water vapour bubbles are formed and causing the water
volume to expand.
The two element boiler drum level control system have two variables, drum level and steam flow
to manipulate the feed water control valve. Steam flow load changes are act as a feed forward
controller to the feed water control valve. This feed forward controller provides an initial
correction for the load changes. Imbalance between feed water mass flow and steam mass flow
out into the drum is corrected by the level controller. This imbalance can arise from blow down
variation due to change in the dissolved solids, variations in feed water supply pressure or leaks
in steam. The feed water flow range and steam flow range are matched so that, a one pound
change in steam flow results in a pound change in feed water flow.
Figure 3.4 Two element boiler drum level control
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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20
Two element boiler drum level control system is adequate for a load changes of moderate speed
and magnitude. It can be applied to any size of boiler. It has two drawbacks i.e. it cannot adjust
for pressure or load disturbances in the feed water system and it cannot eliminate phasing
interaction between the various portions of the process. If these disturbances are of prime
concern, than three element boiler drum level control system can correct the drawbacks.
3.2.3 Three-Element Drum Level Control
This control system is ideally suited where a boiler plant consists of multiple boilers and multiple
feed water pumps or feed water valve has variation in pressure or flow. It requires the
measurement of drum level, steam flow rate, feed water flow rate and feed water control valve.
By using cascade control mechanism level element act as a primary loop and flow element act as
a secondary loop and steam flow element act as a feed forward controller. Level element and
steam flow element mainly correct for unmeasured disturbances within the system such as boiler
blow down. Feed water flow element responds rapidly to variations in feed water demand either
from the feed water pressure and steam flow rate of feed forward signal.
Figure 3.5 Three element boiler drum level control
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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21
This system provides close control during transient condition because the two controllers provide
independent tuning to minimize phasing interaction present in the two element approach. The
addition of the faster feed water secondary loop assures an immediate correction for feed water
disturbances. This system can handle large and rapid load changes and feed water disturbances.
It is ideal for plants with both batch and continuous process where uncertain steam demand
changes are common.
3.3 Drum Level Control Systems
Steam pressure variations cause density changes in both steam and water in the drum. These
density changes affect the differential pressure (DP) between the variable water head in the
steam drum and the fixed reference leg which is measured by the level transmitter. Therefore, the
actual tank level does not agree with the DP head measurement as the pressure in the tank varies
due to the steam demand.
In applications with large steam demand fluctuations, the solution to this drum level problem is
to use a controller which provides continuous correction or compensation of the measured drum
level to correct for variations in steam pressure.
The drum level is derived from the following equation.
hDPH(r s) (ws) (3.1)
Where:
h = True drum level (Inches)
DP = Measured DP head (Inches)
H = Distance between taps (Inches)
γs = Steam Specific Gravity (S.G.)
γr = Reference leg (S.G.)
γs = Drum Water (S.G.)
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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22
3.4 Simulation
The simulation results are shown here for different control strategies. The relationship between
the feed water flow rate and drum level for the boiler process is taken from [12]. The process
function, valve function and disturbance function is shown below.
(3.2)
(3.3)
(3.4)
Where:
Gp(s) = Process Function
Gv(s) = Valve Function
Gd(s) = Disturbance Function
From these parameters, the value of PID controller is calculated for the boiler through different
control strategies. Three different controller i.e. feedback controller, feed forward controller and
cascade controller has been applied in the system.
3.4.1 Feedback Controller
In feedback control system, the variable being controlled is measured and compared with a given
set point value. This difference between the actual and desired value is called the error. Feedback
control reacts to the system and works to minimize this error. The block diagram of single
element boiler drum level for feedback control system is shown in Fig. 3.6. To design the PID
parameters of feedback controller, three different control methods are applied and
correspondingly simulation results are shown.
0.25( 1)( )
(2 1)p
sG s
s s
1( )
(0.15 1)vG s
0.25( 1)( )
(2 1)d
sG s
s s
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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23
Figure 3.6 Single element boiler drum level for feedback control system
3.4.1.1 Ziegler-Nichols Method
This is the simplest method to calculate the parameters of PID. Fig. 3.7 is the step input for the
above simulation as shown in Fig. 3.6. It shows the step input response which is set point of the
drum level of boiler.
Figure 3.7 Step input response
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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24
By applying this method, the PID parameters obtained are
Kp= 2.1, Ki= 0.42 , Kd= 2.625
Applying this PID parameter to the block diagram of boiler drum level control system, the
response obtained is shown in Fig. 3.8. It shows the response of the PID controller output which
reaches its set point after taking too long time. The response of the system is not stable. Hence,
Tyreus-Luyben method is used for better response.
Figure 3.8 Ziegler Nichols PID controller response with step input
3.4.1.2 Tyreus-Luyben Method
This is the another method to set the tuning values. By applying this method, PID parameters
obtained are as follows
Kp= 1.59, Ki= 0.072, Kd= 2.52
Fig. 3.9 shows the output response of the system. The response of the PID controller is improved
and the system is stable as its oscillatory effect is reduced but its settling time is large.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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Figure 3.9 Tyreus-Luyben PID controller response with step input
3.4.1.3 Internal Model Control (IMC)
In this process, following process model is considered and correspondingly the controller output
is calculated.
(3.5)
(3.6)
(3.7)
By putting the Eq. (3.5), Eq. (3.6) in Eq. (3.7), the desired value of controller is calculated, which
depend on the filtering parameter λ.
(3.8)
Putting λ =1
0.25( 1)( )
(2 1)(0.15 1)p
sG s
s s s
2
4 (2 1)(0.15 1)( )
( 1)( 1)
s s sQ s
s s
( )( )
1 ( )* ( ))C
Q sG s
Gp s Q s
3 2
2 2 2
1.2 8.6 4( )
(2 ) (2 2)C
s s sG s
s s
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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26
(3.9)
Now putting this value of Gc(s) to the controller and corresponding, the output response is
shown in Fig. 3.10. The response of the system is stable and its settling time is low. Therefore,
its response is fast so that the boiler level should reach its set point very quickly. The
performance of the system in IMC is improved as compared to Ziegler-Nichols and Tyreus-
Luyben methods. Hence, IMC based PID controller is applied to other processes.
Figure 3.10 IMC based PID controller response with step input
3.4.2 Feedback and Feed Forward Controller
When steam disturbance is added in the system, than single feedback controller is not enough to
control the whole process. So, a feed forward controller is added which removes this
disturbances before it enter into the boiler plant. Feed-forward control avoids the slowness of
feedback control system. Fig. 3.11 shows the block diagram of the feedback and feed forward
controller of 2 element boiler drum level control. In this block diagram, the feed forward
controller control the steam disturbances present in the boiler. To calculate the parameter of
controller for steam disturbances, following calculation have been taken.
3 2
2
1.2 8.6 4( )
3 4C
s s sG s
s s
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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27
0.25( 1)( )
(2 1)(0.15 1)
sGp s
s s s
(3.10)
0.25( 1)( )
(2 1)d
sG s
s s
(3.11)
( )( )
( )
dcf
p
G sG s
G s
(3.12)
By putting the value of Eq. (3.10) and Eq. (3.11) in Eq. (3.12), the desired result is obtained.
Gcf(s) acts as a feed forward controller for steam disturbance rejection.
(3.13)
Figure 3.11 Block Diagram of Feedback and Feed Forward Controller.
0.15 1( )cf
sG s
s
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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Fig. 3.12 shows the output response of the controller. The output of the system removes all the
disturbances and level of the boiler reaches its set point. To reduce the rise time of this system
cascade controller is designed.
Figure 3.12 PID controller response with step input
3.4.3 Cascade Controller
To make the system fast, one more parameter is added here is flow of water. To control this
parameter, cascade control system is designed. Cascade Control uses the output of
the primary controller to manipulate the set point of the secondary controller as a final control
element. Fig. 3.13 show the block diagram of cascade control for 3 element boiler drum level
control system. Cascade control system is designed, in which level control acts as a primary
controller and flow control acts as a secondary controller. PID control system is designed to
reject this flow disturbance.
(3.14)
Where Gcv(s) is the flow controller of the secondary loop of cascade system.
0.47 6.8( )cv
sG s
s
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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The response of the system is stable and settling time is reduced as shown in Fig. 3.14. Cascade
controller responses are very fast as compared to all earlier control strategies. IMC based PID
response is better than Ziegler-Nichols and Tyreus-Luyben method.
Figure 3.13 Block diagram of cascade control system
Figure 3.14 PID controller response with step input
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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3.4.4 Fuzzy Adaptive Control
In the Fig. 3.15, block diagram of the fuzzy adaptive PID controller is designed in the Circuit
Design and Simulation toolkit in LabVIEW. Fuzzy controller works as primary controller and
IMC controller works as secondary controller. Different fuzzy rules will be applied to obtain
various responses.
Figure 3.15 Block Diagram of Fuzzy Adaptive PID Controller
Fig.3.16 shows the membership function plots for the two input and three output variable level.
The inputs are the error and the error rate. The outputs are the Kp, Ki and Kd values. It has
members as Negative Big (NB), Negative Medium (NM), Negative Small (NS), No Change
(NC), Positive Small (PS), Positive Medium (PM) and Positive Big (PB). Range is taken from -1
to 1.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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Figure 3.16 Input/Output Membership Function (Using Mamdani Method)
Fig. 3.17 shows the rule based of the fuzzy logic controller for the three element control system.
It consist of forty nine rule based using If-and-then rules condition for each Kp, Ki and Kd
values. Total of 147 rule base is designed for Fuzzy adaptive PID controller and that file is saved
as fuzzy.fs file.
Fig. 3.18 shows the responses of the Fuzzy Adaptive PID controller for the step input. The
performance of the system is very fast. Its rise time and settling time is very low. So, the
response of the system is rapid. This controller performance is much better than the other PID
controllers.
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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Figure 3.17 Fuzzy Rule Base
Figure 3.18 Fuzzy Adaptive PID Controller Response With Step Input
Boiler Drum Level Control System
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3.5 Result and Discussion
In this chapter, the simulation block diagram are implemented under LABVIEW environment
using three different method of PID controller as Zeigler-Nichol Method, Tyreus-Luyben
Method, Internal Model Control (IMC) and Fuzzy Adaptive PID control method. For the step
input, the performance of the boiler for different controller is compared. The parameter
considered are rise time, peak time, settling time and peak overshoot. Table 3.6 shows the
comparison of the boiler performances through different controller.
Table 3.6 Comparison of the Boiler Performances through Different Controller
Controller
Parameter
Ziegler
Nichol
Tyreus-
Luyben
IMC
Feedback
IMC Feed
Forward
IMC
Cascade
Fuzzy
Adaptive
PID
Rise Time( )Sec 3 4 21 17 7 12
Peak Time( )Sec 6 7 - - 11 -
Settling Time( )Sec 40 50 21 17 14 12
Peak Overshoot( ) 60% 15% - - 5% -
In this analysis, we have seen that more accurate result has been obtained using Fuzzy Adaptive
PID controller. The response of the IMC based PID controller is very close to fuzzy Adaptive
method. The use of IMC based PID controller improves the performance to great extent than
both of these Zeigler-Nichol and Tyreus-Luyben PID tuning techniques. Settling time, rise time
peak time and peak overshoot in case of Fuzzy Adaptive controller is less than other methods.
When the plant response is changing with time, or there is uncertainty we prefer IMC method
IMC based PID controller can adjust the control action before a change in the output set point
actually occurs. Hence, from the above data, we conclude that the Fuzzy Adaptive PID method is
better than other PID controller techniques.
trtp
tsPM
Data Logging and Supervisory Control
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CHAPTER 4
Data Logging and Supervisory Control
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Data Logging and Supervisory Control
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36
DATA LOGGING AND SUPERVISORY CONTROL This chapter describes the concepts of data acquisition, data logging and supervisory control of
boiler drum level control system. Simulation of data logging system is performed in the
LabVIEW software. The generated result is logged into the database.
4.1 Introduction
Data is information, knowledge and conceptions obtained by observation, investigation,
interpretation and visualization. Data are intangible and include numbers, words, symbols,
concepts and oral verbalization [13]. Present world lives on data and advanced communication
technologies. The word “Data” has now been upgraded into a term called “Statistical Data”
which is defined as “Factual information such as measurements and statistics, especially
information organized for analysis or used to reason or make decisions”.
Starting from the most simple day to day applications such as cell-phones, televisions and World
Wide Web (www) to more complex and advanced operations like satellite & spacecraft
communications, nuclear reactor control systems and automatic systems; there are statistical data
spread all over the broad spectrum. It would have been impossible to acquire and control such a
huge amount of statistical data without the modern computers and advanced digital signal
processing methods. A major aspect of concern is the efficient and controlled management of
this huge amount of data.
While there is a vast and diverse range of data all around, some of low importance & some
highly critical, some secure and confidential & some un-secure, some raw & some processed; it
becomes imperative that there should be some supervisory control system which would manage
these widely varied data efficiently. The main objective of the supervisory control system would
be to acquire data, extract only the necessary blocks of information from it, process it and derive
Data Logging and Supervisory Control
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37
conclusion from it and store the data in some storage system for future reference. These ideas
lead to Data-logging & Supervisory Control system [14].
4.2 Data Acquisition
Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real world physical condition
and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be manipulated by a
computer. Data acquisition system convert the analog waveforms into digital values for
processing. Transducer is a device that converts a measurable physical quantity (temperature,
strain, acceleration) to an electrical signal. Signal conditioning can include amplification,
filtering, differential applications, isolation, simultaneous sample and hold (SS&H), current-to-
voltage conversion, voltage-to-frequency conversion, linearization.
Figure 4.19 Schematic Diagram of Data Acquisition System
Fig. 4.19 shows the schematic diagram of data acquisition system. Sensor is used to sense the
physical parameters from the physical world. The output of the sensor is provided to the signal
conditioning element. The main purpose of signal conditioning element is to remove the noise
Data Logging and Supervisory Control
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38
and amplify the signal. The output of the signal conditioning system is provided to Analog to
Digital Converter (ADC). The ADC converts the analog signal to the equivalent digital data. The
equivalent digital data is then fed to the computer, which acts both as a controller and display
element [15].
4.3 Data Logging
Data logging is the measurement and recording of parameter over a period of time. The
parameter can be temperature, strain, pressure, voltage, current etc. Once data has been acquired,
the process of storing this information for future usages and reference is called data logging. For
example: weather profile of a region is monitored and stored over a long period of time. Later
this information is used to predict the future weather in that region.
Real world data logging applications are more involved in some combination of online analysis,
offline analysis, display, report generation, data sharing than just acquiring and recording signal.
Due to the advancement of modern computers, new PC based data-logging systems has been
evolved. These systems combine the data acquisition and storage capabilities of standalone data-
loggers with the archiving, analysis, reporting and display capabilities of modern PCs.
4.4 Supervisory Control
After data acquisition and data logging function are completed, supervisory control comes in to
action. A supervisory control system is a system that constantly keeps watch on the on going
process and handles the situation according to its importance. In supervisory control the
computer which acts as a controller compares the signal coming from the process with the
reference value or set point to calculate the error.
The controller give decision according to the error is called as control action. The decision or
control action is implemented in the process using actuator and final control element. The output
of the controller is given to the digital to analog converter, which is then conditioned according
Data Logging and Supervisory Control
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39
to the process needs. The final signal is passed to the process and control action is implemented
in the process through actuator and final control element.
4.5 Simulation
Three element boiler level control has been designed using the circuit design tool kit in
LabVIEW. Fig.4.20 show the front panel diagram of PID controller of Three element boiler level
control in which steam flow element acts as a feed forward controller, level element acts as a
primary loop and flow element act as a secondary loop in the cascade controller [16].
Figure 4.20 Front Panel Diagram of Three Element Boiler Level Control.
Level element and steam flow element mainly correct for unmeasured disturbances within the
system such as boiler blow down. Feed water flow element responds rapidly to variations in feed
water demand either from the steam flow rate feed forward signal and feed water pressure or
flow fluctuations. The graph shows the unit step responses of the controller. Its rise time is very
Data Logging and Supervisory Control
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40
small and peak overshoot is very low. As a result, the overall performance of the controller is
very fast.
Fig 4.20 is used as the sub VI in Fig 4.21. Fig 4.21 is the block diagram of data logging system
of boiler. The high and low limit of the process variable is specified. If the data generated is well
within the desired level, then "normal" tag is assigned or else "not normal" tag is assigned. All
the data is logged in to the database with appropriate date and time and the status of the process
variable either normal or not normal [17].
Figure 4.21 Block Diagram of Data Logging System of Boiler.
4.6 Results and Discussion
The front panel of the plant is shown in Fig 4.22 where the level and temperature of boiler is
clearly indicated. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) unit is interfaced
Data Logging and Supervisory Control
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41
with the real time plant. The front panel of the SCADA unit reports every change in level and
temperature to the operator by showing the change in level and temperature in the front panel.
The scaling factors of the boilers are indicated in the front panel.
Figure 4.22 Web Based Front Panel of Data Logging System of Boiler.
In this data logging system, the real time trend of the process variable (steam temperature and
drum level) are shown and all the data are stored in the database. The high and low units of
steam temperature and drum level are also mentioned in the front panel.
Table 4.7 shows the database which is generated by the system. The database is generated in
Microsoft excel sheet and stored in the computer. In this, the values of temperature and level are
logged with appropriate date, time, the status of the level and temperature. The database appends
all the data of the process variables as seen in Table 4.7. This database can be used to monitor
Data Logging and Supervisory Control
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42
the process data in present as well as for future reference. This data can also be used for
statistical process control applications.
Table 4.7 Database Stored In Excel File
Time Temp Temp Status
Level Level Status
2:15:01 -21.42 Not Normal 5.534 Not normal
2:15:02 -7.88 Not Normal 7.264 Not normal
2:15:03 42.16 Not normal 40.723 Not normal
2:15:04 78.47 Normal 84.921 Not normal
2:15:05 93.15 Normal 94.433 Not normal
2:15:06 104.89 Not Normal 141.234 Not normal
2:15:07 108.11 Not normal 206.823 Normal
2:15:08 101.93 Not normal 210.324 Normal
2:15:09 93.55 Normal 222.276 Normal
2:15:10 84.11 Normal 225.284 Normal
2:15:11 75.06 Normal 223.522 Normal
2:15:12 67.36 Normal 221.322 Normal
2:15:13 41.83 Not Normal 215.678 Normal
2:15:14 58.45 Normal 218.988 Normal
2:15:15 60.75 Normal 218.68 Normal
2:15:16 57.91 Normal 217.678 Normal
2:15:17 59.94 Normal 217.824 Normal
2:15:18 60.75 Normal 217.867 Normal
2:15:19 64.46 Normal 218.284 Normal
2:15:20 66.62 Normal 218.504 Normal
Internet Based Control System
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CHAPTER 5 ________________________________________________
Internet Based Control System
________________________________________________
Internet Based Control System
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44
INTERNET BASED CONTROL SYSTEM
This chapter presents the basic concept of internet based control system. Web based boiler drum
level control system is developed by Web Publishing tool in LabVIEW. The concept of web
services is explained. Architecture of Client/Server based on Internet is described. Simulation
has been performed and HTML file is created.
5.1 Introduction
The Internet plays a significant role in real time industrial manufacturing, scheduling, monitoring
and management. An extensive research work has led to the development of new technologies
that uses the Internet for supervision and control of industrial processes. Internet-based control
systems addresses the challenges that need to be overcome before the Internet can be beneficially
used not only for monitoring of but also remote control industrial plants [18].
In the last decade, the most successful network developed has been the Internet that has proved a
powerful tool for distributed collaborative work. The emerging Internet technologies offer
unprecedented interconnection capability [19]. Internet-based control systems are characterized
as globally remote monitoring by the Internet. In recent years, Internet-based control systems
have gained considerable attention in science and engineering, since they provide a new and
convenient unified framework for system control applications [20].
Modern day process plants, construction sites, agricultural industry, petroleum, power
distribution network, wireless sensor network, refinery industry and every other industry where
data is of prime importance use wireless data acquisition, data processing and data logging
equipments [21]. Acquiring data from the field with the help of different sensors are always
challenging. Essentially, Internet-based control systems have been developed by means of
extending discrete control systems. The use of the Internet as a communication medium provides
cost-effective, flexible and easy-to- access distributed control systems that are not limited to any
geographical region.
Internet Based Control System
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5.2 Development of Internet Based Control System
The Internet is widely used for efficient and reliable dissemination of digital information. Thus,
it is a natural choice for data communication tasks arising in remote monitoring and control of
processes. In this work, we use the Internet as a channel to monitor and control boiler drum level
control process. This methodology eliminates the need for the user to interact with the boiler
process physically. Internet-based graphics tool, enable development of interactive graphical user
interface (GUIs) for process monitoring and control [22].
5.2.1 Web Services
A Web service is a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine
interaction over a network. Web services provide a standard means of interoperating between
different software applications, running on a variety of platforms and frameworks [23]. Web
services enable the invocation of a method on a remote target using standard Web-based
protocols. A client sends a request to a remote server, which processes the request and replies
with a response, which is then interpreted and displayed by the client application. We rely on this
communication method for everyday activities such as browsing the Web, checking e-mails and
reading any article online.
All the components of a Web service are explained as follows.
Server- An application responsible for parsing a request, executing the appropriate action or
method and sending a response to the client.
Client - An application that sends a request to the server and waits to receive a response back,
which is then interpreted by the client.
Standard protocols – Web based protocols such as HTTP route data over the physical networks
from the client to the appropriate server method and then back to the client.
Network – The physical layer, such as Ethernet or IEEE 802.11, over which data is transmitted.
Internet Based Control System
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5.2.2 Client/ Server Architecture
Client/Server architecture can be considered as a network environment that exchanges
information between a server machine and a client machine where server has some resources that
can be shared by different clients. Architecture of Client /Server based on internet is shown in
Fig. 5.22. In order to develop the program on a server computer, LabVIEW Web Server (LWS)
is used. Simulation of boiler drum level control model is created in LabVIEW by Circuit Design
and Simulation toolkit. To access the boiler drum level control system through an internet, LWS
program is used [24]. When all mentioned programs are appropriately operated on a server, a
user friendly powerful program is obtained. On the computer of clients, only internet connection
and internet explorer program are enough to monitor the boiler process. So, they do not need any
additional programs.
Figure 5.23 Architecture of Client/ Server based on Internet
Internet Based Control System
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5.2.3 Web Server Configuration
Web Server Configuration is used for deploying the LabVIEW VIs, for communication over a
Web. To publish virtual instruments (VIs) on the Web, the Web Server must be enabled. The
Web Publishing Tool is a LabVIEW built-in tool to publish the front panel of a VI as a HTML
document to the web. To convert the LabVIEW program to HTML file following steps have
been followed:
Step 1: “Select VI and Viewing Options”: This option publishes the VI, which must be in
memory of the LabVIEW. The Viewing Mode can be changed between Embedded, Snapshot
and Monitor. Embedded allows clients to view and control the front panel. Snapshot allows to
display only a static image of the front panel. Monitor allows to display a snapshot with a
configurable updating interval.
Step 2: “Select HTML Output” In this step, we can type the title (document title), a text before
(header) the front panel and text after (footer) the front panel which are going to be displayed on
the web page.
Step 3: “Save the New Web Page” In this step, the created HTML file of the VI is going to be
saved to a directory with the selected filename and a URL will be created. After saving it, the VI
is ready to be remote controlled from a client by typing this URL.
5.2.4 Advantages of Internet Based Control System
Some of the advantages of Internet based control system are discussed below.
Global access to the monitoring and control functionality.
Use of zero cost software (standard web browsers) on the client site to access
information.
Allowing collaboration among skilled plant managers situated in geographically diverse
locations.
Provides graphical user interface (GUI) to easily understand the control system.
Internet Based Control System
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5.3 Simulation
Internet Based process control system is designed in the Web Publishing tool in LabVIEW. Two
simulation has been performed i.e. Internet based boiler drum level control system and Internet
based data logging and supervisory control system
5.3.1 Internet Based Boiler Drum Level Control System
This work presents a general method to monitor the drum level control system through Internet.
The user interface is shown in Fig. 5.24 through which, the user can select the boiler from three
different boilers. By selecting 2nd
tab, two element boiler drum level control system is selected as
shown in Fig. 5.25. By selecting 3rd
tab, three element boiler drum level control is selected as
shown in Fig. 5.26. Now, the set point of the drum water level is selected through a slider tab and
see the performance of the boiler in the graph (level vs time).
Figure 5.24 Internet Based Boiler Drum Level Control System (Single Element)
Internet Based Control System
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49
Through three different boilers, comparison between the performances of the boiler system is
studied. Three element boiler level control response is very fast as compared to other two boilers.
Figure 5.25 Internet Based Boiler Drum Level Control System (Two Element)
Figure 5.26 Internet Based Boiler Drum Level Control System (Three Element)
Internet Based Control System
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5.3.2 Internet Based Data Logging and Supervisory Control System
Internet based data logging and supervisory control program is simulated in the LabVIEW
software. Fig. 5.27 shows the web page of the front panel of data logging system in HTML file.
Only Internet Explorer browser is needed to open this HTML file. In this data logging system,
the real time trend of the process variables (steam temperature and drum level) are shown and all
the data are stored in the database. The high and low limits of steam temperature and drum level
are also mentioned in the front panel. Through the internet, boiler process variable is monitored
and data base is stored in text file. Internet based data logging and supervisory control system is
designed to monitor the boiler system and store the database through internet from any where
without any limitation of place and time.
Figure 5.27 Web Based Front Panel Of Data Logging System Of Boiler.
Conclusion
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51
Chapter 6 ________________________________________________
Conclusion
________________________________________________
Conclusion
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52
CONCLUSION
In this chapter the overall conclusion of the thesis is presented. Future scope of this work is also
discussed.
6.1 Conclusion
In this thesis, first boiler drum level control system is designed with different controller
strategies by using Circuit Design and Simulation tool in LabVIEW. Different PID control
method is used i.e. Zeigler-Nichol Method, Tyreus-Luyben Method, Internal Model Control
(IMC) and Fuzzy adaptive PID Control Method to design the controller for boiler. Comparison
between the performances of the control strategies is studied and as a result the response of
Fuzzy Adaptive PID control is more accurate than other controls methods. So, this controller is
selected for the control system of boiler. The response of the IMC based PID controller is very
close to fuzzy Adaptive method. The IMC based PID controller is used, when the plant response
is changing with time, or there is uncertainty.
For the data logging and supervisory control of the boiler process, LabVIEW based data logging
program is created. This program stored the process variables (Temperature and Level) data in
Microsoft excel sheet with the proper indication of date and time status (Normal or Not Normal).
Now, to view this boiler control system through remote places, Internet based boiler drum level
control system is designed. To remotely monitor the boiler process, HTML file is created by
using Web Publishing tool in LabVIEW. Now, this page can be accessed by Internet Explorer
browser across any part of the world. Web based process control system is created by LabVIEW
software. So, supervisory control of the whole process is possible just through Internet
connection.
Conclusion
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53
6.2 Future Work
Design and development of alarm system and to automatically send alarm notifying
emails.
For large amount of information, the speed of the next generation Internet might be
sufficiently fast, to dramatically reduce transmission delay and data loss.
Improvement is the security and reliability of the system.
Design and development of more advanced controller for the boiler drum level control
process.
Bibliography
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54
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57
Publications
Journal
R. Agrawal, U.C. Pati, “Internet Based Data Logging and Supervisory Control of Process Using
LabVIEW”, Journal of Instrument Society of India ISOI (Communicated).
Conferences
Roopal Agrawal, Umesh C. Pati, “Internet Based Boiler Drum Level Control System Using
LabVIEW”, International Conference on Advances in Computer, Electronics and Electrical
Engineering (ICACEEE), Mumbai, Mar 2012.
Roopal Agrawal, Umesh C. Pati, “Design and Data Logging of Three Element Boiler Level
Control Using LabVIEW”, National Conference on Recent Advances in Chemical and
Environmental Engineering (RACEE), Rourkela, Jan 2012.